INgrooves Founder Robb McDaniels Named New Beatport CEO

The announcement is the latest in a series of big moves by entertainment giant LiveStyle

Brian Haack

GRAMMYs

Oct 18, 2017 - 3:59 pm

Los Angeles-based live events conglomerate LiveStyle has made some big moves this year, the latest being the hiring of Robb McDaniels as the new CEO of its electronic-based music store Beatport.

Following a challenging year in 2016 that saw LiveStyle declare bankruptcy under its previous moniker, SFX Entertainment, the company has reemerged under new leadership and a new name.

After Randy Phillips, former AEG Live CEO, was brought on to take the reins and manage the company's rebranding, Phillips wasted little time in luring producer/DJ/entrepreneur Gary Richards away from his own HARD Events, which sold its controlling interests to LiveNation in 2012. Richards is LifeStyle's current president of North American activities.

One of the company assets in question during SFX's 2016 bankruptcy slump was the digital music distribution outlet and streaming service Beatport, which SFX acquired in 2013. The online music store was briefly considered for auction in early 2016, but ultimately was retained after closing the doors on its streaming service offerings to cut costs.

On Oct. 17 LiveStyle officially announced that McDaniels, founder of the successful independent music distribution service and full-scale marketing outlet INgrooves Music Group, will be taking over as Beatport's new CEO.

Founded in 2002, INgrooves became one of the first independent music distribution companies to partner with iTunes, while also building a retail network of more than 600 services and storefronts.

"I have known Beatport since its birth in 2004 as the preeminent DJ download store in the world," McDaniels said in a statement to Billboard. "Ever since they easily convinced me to sign up INgrooves as a content partner, I have worked closely with many of the talented executives and passionate employees at the company. I know that Beatport, in partnership with its parent company LiveStyle, has the ingredients to dramatically increase the positive impact it can have on the dance and DJ community."

LiveNation Executive Michael Rapino Renews Contract

An SEC filing has revealed the complete details of LiveNation president/CEO's new contract renewal

Brian Haack

GRAMMYs

Dec 18, 2017 - 1:06 pm

Alongside this morning's announcement of a new joint venture with Bowery Ballroom founders to launch the New York-centric promotion and live event booking firm Mercury East Presents, an SEC filing by LiveNation has revealed that President/CEO Michael Rapino has just inked a five-year contract renewal to stay with the company that will see him potentially earning $9 million a year, plus vested stock, through 2022.

Rapino first joined LiveNation in 2005, and around that time the company launched its initial public offering at $10.75, and as of market close last week, LiveNation's stock value sits at $42.63 a share — a four-fold increase under his leadership.

Rapino's renewed contract, which will remain in effect until Dec. 31, 2022, promises 289,505 shares of common stock, 700,000 shares of performance equity, and a base salary of $3 million per year with eligibility for a performance-based bonus of $6 million. He will also receive an additional one-time bonus of $1 million for 2017, thanks in part to his securing several high-profile acquisitions including the purchase of the Napa, Calif.-based BottleRock Festival, Israel's Blue Note Entertainment, and today's Mercury East Presents launch.

Should Rapino be terminated by LiveNation "without cause" or if he terminates his own employment "for good reason" at any point during the contract period, he will receive a lump-sum cash payment equal to the sum of his base salary and his most recent performance bonus, multiplied by two, and the immediate acceleration of all unvested equity.

MIA, Gucci Mane, Jhené Aiko: AMF Fest Announces Inaugural Headliners

The first edition of Gary Richards' new Los Angeles festival boasts a strong bill of headliners

Brian Haack

GRAMMYs

Apr 19, 2018 - 11:55 am

Former HARD Events founder and new LiveStyle majordomo of North American activities Gary Richards has announced the slate of headliners for his new downtown Los Angeles-based multigenre music festival All My Friends L.A.

Set in downtown L.A.'s ROW outdoor venue near the former American Apparel warehouse, the two-day, three-stage event will feature landmark headlining sets from RL Grime, Gucci Mane, and Jhené Aiko on its opening day, and M.I.A., Jamie XX, and Armand Van Helden to close out the weekend.

The full lineup of supporting acts for the weekend remains forthcoming, but this initial headliner tease promise big things to come.

Prior to launching his new flagship festival, Richards has been slowly teasing the rollout for the AMF brand with a series of activations and smaller events, first teeing up the inaugural voyage of Friend Ship cruise festival – which has already sold out almost a year before the event dates – then hosting a marathon day party during Miami Music Week under the "All My Friends" banner that kicked off at 5 a.m. and ran until midafternoon.

All My Friends L.A. is set to rip up downtown Los Angeles Aug. 18 – 19. The first tier of Early Bird tickets have already sold out, but tier 2 tickets are still available. Tickets and more information are all available from AMF's official website.

HARD Events Founder Gary Richards Announces New L.A. Festival

The HARD Events founder and former LiveNation exec is bringing a new installment of his AMF brand to L.A.

Brian Haack

GRAMMYs

Apr 11, 2018 - 1:36 pm

Business has been good for Gary Richards in 2018. Since parting ways with LiveNation – as well as his brainchild production company HARD Events, of which LN owns a controlling share – in Sept. 2017 to take over as President of North American events for LiveStyle, he has acted quickly to establish his new flagship events brand "All My Friends." First up: a new summer music festival set to take place in downtown Los Angeles.

Richards has been expertly teasing the rollout for the AMF brand with a series of activations and smaller events, first teeing up the inaugural voyage of Friend Ship cruise festival – which has already sold out almost a year before the event dates – then hosting a marathon day party during Miami Music Week under the "All My Friends" banner that kicked off at 5 a.m. and ran until midafternoon.

The dance festival czar's latest project will continue to expand his LiveStyle footprint with All My Friends FestivalLos Angeles, set to take place in the large outdoor venue ROW LA (which L.A. natives might recognize as the home of the Smorgasburg weekly farmer's market).

The two-day event's official lineup is still forthcoming, but the press release announcing the new venture promises three stages packed with futurebass, R&B and top tier hip-hop acts.

The performance will take place in New York City during the annual "GRAMMYs In The Schools Live!" event just days before the 60th GRAMMY Awards

Brian Haack

GRAMMYs

Dec 21, 2017 - 4:24 pm

Select students from the GRAMMY Camp—Jazz Session program will gather at the John L. Tishman Auditorium in New York City during GRAMMY Week to participate in the ninth annual "GRAMMY In The Schools Live!" performance and alumni reception.

Special guest and past GRAMMY Camp — Jazz Session participant Jon Batiste will join the student band during the performance. A graduate of the Juilliard School, Batiste is the current musical director for "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert."

Additional guests of honor will include Pamela Alexander, director of community development for Ford Motor Company Fund, which provides funding and support for the GRAMMY Camp program, Recording Academy President/CEO and Board Chair of the GRAMMY Museum Neil Portnow, as well as the recipient of the Recording Academy and the GRAMMY Museum's fifth annual Music Educator Award.

GRAMMY Camp is one of several flagship music education programs the comprise the GRAMMY Museum's GRAMMY in the Schools initiative, alongside GRAMMY Signature Schools and the Jane Ortner Education Award. GRAMMY Camp offers selected high school students an interactive nonresidential summer music experience focusing on all aspects of commercial music.

High school instrumentalists can audition for the GRAMMY Camp—Jazz Session, and selectees will travel to the host city for the annual GRAMMY Awards, and participate in high-profile GRAMMY Week performances, recording sessions and attend the GRAMMY telecast.

"GRAMMY In The Schools Live!" will take place on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018, at 6:30 p.m. General admission tickets are on sale now.

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